Comments on: Stainless Cycle Truck Rack

By: AlexWetmore

AlexWetmore — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:30:17 +0000

Jimmy — The Bakfiets has multiple holes on the linkage that allow you to change the ratio. I”ve ridden with it in 1:1 and another position, and honestly didn”t notice a huge difference when riding. I”ll probably copy that design on my bike though, just to get more experience with it.

I don”t think I”ll do cable steering, the one bike with it felt a little odd to me.

Pat — I will provide at least 20 hours of Spokane level support upon dropping the rack off with John. After that he is all yours.

By: Pat S

Pat S — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:10:04 +0000

Alex,

John is already more than a little goofy-giddy over the cycle truck as-is. Do you think that bumping it up a notch is such a good idea?

You”re 300 miles away, but we have to deal with him on a daily basis.

By: Jimmy Livengood

Jimmy Livengood — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:36:50 +0000

Alex, any though on varying the steering ratio?

I haven”t noticed any bikes which employ this sort of tie-rod steering linkage that have deviated from a 1:1 ratio, with each steering arm being the same length. Also, each steering arm always sticks out at 90 degrees from the centerline of the bike (3 o”clock or 9 o”clock when looking top-town).

I always wondered if an increasing-rate or falling-rate steering could be designed that might be beneficial.

Using a cable/pulley system like on the smallhaul would allow this, if one made the pulley elliptical or some other non-circular shape.

Just thinking out loud here, I haven”t seen it addressed before.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:17:19 +0000

Just came across your blog today while zoning out at work. I”m enjoying it thoroughly. I”m brand new to Seattle and an avid cyclist. I”m thrilled to see there’’s such gorgeous S240 bike camping to be done in the area.

By: AlexWetmore

AlexWetmore — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:29:53 +0000

Sam — Yes, the bike will have two headsets connected by a linkage. This isn”t a solution unique to cargo bikes, recumbents have also used steering linkages for a long time.

By: rory

rory — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:49:18 +0000

I”ve been using a basket, with a bunjee net on the top of it for grocery getting. I actually thread my lock through the bunjee, so it is completely suspended, and doesnt rattle or anything. i wonder if this can be designed into a porteur rack…

By: samh

samh — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:05:34 +0000

Alex,

Firstly, I decided to RSS your blog last week after having stumbled upon it many times doing research for various bicycle DIY and cargo bike research. Very, very wonderful stuff.

So, onto the meat of my post. I”m curious about your plans for steering on the Bike Truck v2 design. Given the steer tube and the fork are not in-line, do you plan to design something like the steering on a Cetma / Bakfiets style bicycle as a solution?

Sincerely,
Sam H

By: AlexWetmore

AlexWetmore — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:44:25 +0000

That is the goal with #2 Adam. I want the bike to be the same length as bike #1, but ready to handle a little heavier loads.

I can”t fit an XtraCycle or Bakfiets in my basement unless I sell our tandem. We only have room for one long bike. Compact cargo bikes are an interesting challenge.

By: Adam Alpern

Adam Alpern — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:41:20 +0000

The rope cleats are brilliant! Nice work.

I”m looking forward to seeing Cycle Truck #2 – it looks like exactly the sort of bike I want. More capacity than a porteur, but still relatively close to “normal” bike size.